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Intelligent modular design with holonic fuzzy agents

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Abstract

Presently, modular designs use various technologies accompanied by multiple models. Although no integral solution is known, a plethora of approaches is used to resolve this trans disciplinary challenge, often by using local intelligence. However, the effective utilization of multiple models requires proper integration for them to work together as a cohesive system. This requirement calls for the development of intelligent models and tools that can be used for the development of intelligent modular products. Modular design based on these intelligent models and tools is called intelligent modular design. Intelligent modular design requires to be considered both dynamically and holistically by combining customer requirements, product functions, solutions, service specifications, and their fuzziness in order to structure a product into intelligent modules. This paper proposes the use of holonic fuzzy agents to fulfill both the properties of intelligent models and the requirements of intelligent modular design. The set of fuzzy function agents and their corresponding fuzzy solution agents are found from customization of the product-service system in the fuzzy function agent-fuzzy solution agent sub-network. On the basis of attractor agent recognition, the fuzzy function and fuzzy solution agents interact to form the holonic fuzzy module agents. Self-embedding of holonic fuzzy module agents, which is the fundamental property of the holonic structure, is also characterized by vertical and horizontal communication. The flexibility and agility of the software agent make the holonic structure of intelligent modules adaptable. An application illustrates the proposed intelligent modular design.

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Acknowledgements

The project was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51205242), and Shanghai Science and Technology Innovation Action Plan (Grant No. 16111106402).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Technology of Belfort Montbéliard, ERCOS/ELLIADD EA4661, University Burgundy - Franche-Comté, 90010, Belfort, France

    Egon Ostrosi

  2. School of Engineering, ECAM Rennes, Bruz CS 29128, 35091, Rennes, France

    Alain-Jérôme Fougères

  3. School of Mechatronic Engineering and Automation, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200240, People’s Republic of China

    Zai-Fang Zhang

  4. PROSTEP AG, Dolivostr.11, 64293, Darmstadt, Germany

    Josip Stjepandić

Authors
  1. Egon Ostrosi
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  2. Alain-Jérôme Fougères
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  3. Zai-Fang Zhang
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  4. Josip Stjepandić
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Egon Ostrosi.

Appendix: Fuzzy module holon based on fuzzy function holon

Appendix: Fuzzy module holon based on fuzzy function holon

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Ostrosi, E., Fougères, AJ., Zhang, ZF. et al. Intelligent modular design with holonic fuzzy agents. Adv. Manuf. 9, 81–103 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40436-020-00331-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40436-020-00331-0

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